Comparative economic and environmental benefits of ownership of both new and used light duty hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Japan

We present a novel study of the differential total costs of ownership and marginal cost of life cycle emissions abatement for owners of both new and used light duty fuel cell and internal combustion engine vehicles in Japan. We find the emergence of used FCVs in the fleet significantly improves the economic and emissions savings over ICEVs. The cumulative life cycle GHG emissions reductions rapidly increase when FCVs exceed 55%–70% of total LDVs. Life cycle emissions in the vehicle fleet increase 40% if hydrogen is produced from SMR with CCS rather than from solar or wind based electrolysis. Fuel cell cost and electrolyser efficiency are key factors in achieving benefits. Finally, if the early time growth of FCVs to 2030 can be maintained near 50% the government 2050 emissions reduction target of 80% reduction from a 2013 base can be achieved.     

Radiocarbon (14C) diurnal variations in fine particles at sites downwind from Tokyo, Japan in summer

The radiocarbon ((14)C) of total carbon (TC) in atmospheric fine particles was measured at 6 h or 12 h intervals at two sites, 50 and 100 km downwind from Tokyo, Japan (Kisai and Maebashi) in summer 2007. The percent modern carbon (pMC) showed clear diurnal variations with minimums in the daytime. The mean pMC values at Maebashi were 28 ± 7 in the daytime and 45 ± 16 at night (37 ± 15 for the overall period). Those at Kisai were 26 ± 9 in the daytime and 44 ± 8 at night (37 ± 12 for the overall period). This data indicates that fossil sources were major contributors to the daytime TC, while fossil and modern sources had comparable contributions to nighttime TC in the suburban areas. At both sites, the concentration of fossil carbon as well as O(3) and the estimated secondary organic carbon increased in the daytime. These results suggest that fossil sources around Tokyo contributed significantly to the high daytime concentration of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) at the two suburban sites. A comparison of pMC and the ratio of elemental carbon/TC from our particulate samples with those from three end-member sources corroborates the dominant role of fossil SOA in the daytime.     

Anodic films formed on magnesium in organic, silicate-containing electrolytes

Anodic films were prepared on magnesium in electrolyte solutions consisting of 3.0 M KOH and various concentrations of sodium silicate and aqueous ethylene-glycol solutions. The anti-corrosion properties of the films formed in the ethylene-glycol electrolyte solutions ranging from 10 to 40 wt% far exceeded that of the anodic film produced using the HAE method. The film formed under optimal conditions had excellent anti-corrosion properties, which were more than 10-fold greater than those of the HAE anodic films. The anodic film consisted of two layers—a heterogeneous porous layer and a barrier layer; moreover, both carbon and silicate were detected in the anodic film.     

石炭ガス化スラグの有効利用(英文)

石炭ガス化複合発電(IGCC)は環境負荷が低く,経済効果の高い発電方式である.SOx,NOxおよびCO2の排出量が少ない.IGCC方式の場合,従来の粉体灰は生じず,代りに溶融スラグが得られる.そしてそのスラグは各種土木工事への適用が期待されているが,その場合ポゾラン反応が起こることが期待されているが,その測定は時間を多く必要としている.また溶融成分の性状により大きく変化する.我々はその性状を光学顕微鏡観察によるガラス相の定量で行うこととした.クラックや内部空隙も観察でき、極めて有効な方法である.     

Serous Membrane Detachment with Ultrasonic Homogenizer Improves Engraftment of Fetal Liver to Liver Surface in a Rat Model of Cirrhosis

Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage cirrhosis. However, due to serious donor shortages, new treatments to replace liver transplantation are sorely needed. Recent studies have focused on novel therapeutic methods using hepatocytes and induced pluripotent stem cells, we try hard to develop methods for transplanting these cells to the liver surface. In the present study, we evaluated several methods for their efficiency in the detachment of serous membrane covering the liver surface for transplantation to the liver surface. The liver surface of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)-deficient rats in a cirrhosis model was detached by various methods, and then fetal livers from DPPIV-positive rats were transplanted. We found that the engraftment rate and area as well as the liver function were improved in rats undergoing transplantation following serous membrane detachment with an ultrasonic homogenizer, which mimics the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator^® (CUSA), compared with no detachment. Furthermore, the bleeding amount was lower with the ultrasonic homogenizer method than with the needle and electric scalpel methods. These findings provide evidence that transplantation to the liver surface with serous membrane detachment using CUSA might contribute to the development of new treatments for cirrhosis using cells or tissues.     

Crystallization of Fine, Chemically Prepared Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate Powders at Low Temperature

Fine, homogeneous lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) powder prepared by the hydrolysis of an aqueous nitrate solution with ammonia gas exhibits high reactivity when calcined. The minimum temperature for crystal formation in PLZT is 400°C. The kinetics of crystallization between 400° and 600°C are studied isothermally by XRD. The isothermal crystallization process is best fitted to a first-order equation derived for a random, nucleation-controlled system on a large number of small particles with an activation energy of 297 kJ/mol. Characterization of the powder by XRD line-broadening and BET surface-area examination in the range 400° to 500°C shows a microstructure consisting of ∼20-nm subunits agglomerated into ∼60-nm particles. Each subunit evidently generates a single nucleus, which grows within that subunit.     

Improvement of sweating model in 2-Node Model and its application to thermal safety for hot environments

Recently, due to global warming and the heat-island effect, more and more people are exposed to the dangers of heat disorders. A hot thermal environment can be evaluated using various indices, such as new Standard Effective Temperature (SET^∗) using the 2-Node Model (2 NM), Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Predicted Heat Strain (PHS) model, and so on. The authors aim to develop a safety evaluation approach for hot environments. Subject experiments are performed in a laboratory to comprehend the physiological response of the human body. The results are compared with the computed values from the 2 NM and PHS models, and improved the sweating model in 2 NM in order to take into account the relationship with metabolic rate. A demonstration is provided of using the new sweating model for evaluating thermal safety in a hot environment.     

Over 27% efficiency GaAs/InGaAs mechanically stacked solar cell

We have applied an InGaAs solar cell (band GAP = 0.75 eV) to the bottom cell of the super-high-efficiency tandem solar cell aiming an over 35% conversion efficiency. The InGaAs cell which is lattice-matched to the InP substrate showed the efficiency of 5.5% under the GaAs substrate with low carrier concentration. Combining with the GaAs cell by means of a mechanically stacking technique, we obtained an efficiency of 28.8% at air mass (AM) 1.5, 1-sun. This result suggests the possibility of the cells with the efficiency of over 35% with combining a GalnP/GaAs monolithic tandem cell and the InGaAs cell (or InGaAsP cell).     

Determination of hymexazol in agricultural products by GC-NPD

A method for the determination of hymexazol in agricultural produdcts by gas chromatography with a highly sensitive nitrogen-phosphorus detector (GC-NPD) was investigated. Hymexazol was extracted with acetonitrile, and the acetonitrile layer was separated by salting-out. The water layer was loaded onto a Chem-Elut column. Hymexazol in the water layer was adsorbed on the column, and eluted with ethyl acetate. The acetonitrile layer and the eluate were mixed and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, and the sample solution was cleaned up on a C18 column. Hymexazol in the eluate was analyzed by GC-NPD with a high-polarity capillary column (DB-FFAP) and highly deactivated inlet liner.Recoveries of hymexazol spiked in agricultural products (tomato, lemon, soybean and other samples) at the level of 0.1 mug/g ranged from 65.0 to 84.7%. The limit of detection was 0.02microg/g.